On-Campus Interview Policies & Procedures

Formal Recruiting

The On-Campus Interview (OCI) program is an event that most law schools across the country provide. Fall OCI occurs during August, September, October and Spring OCI occurs during January, February, March. Legal employers visit law school campuses for the purpose of interviewing first- and second-year students for summer positions and third-year students for post-graduation positions. The majority of the employers who participate are mid-size to large firms and government agencies that are able to predict their hiring needs several months to two years in advance. Smaller firms, government agencies and public interest employers may participate as well.

Washburn Law uses the web-based Symplicity system to administer the on-campus interview programs. Students will use Symplicity to upload cover letters and resumes, "bid" or apply for employers, and view interview schedules.

Students should check the employer list carefully and often when determining if OCI is a good tool for their job searches. It is very important to pay attention to details throughout the OCI process, as well as to research employers carefully before submitting application materials. It is recommended that students target selected employers based on the skills and experience required of the position, geographical preference, and practice area.

OCI is just one method of searching for employment and students should incorporate additional methods such as job postings, networking, and direct contact with potential employers. Students are strongly encouraged to schedule individual appointments in the PDO to develop an individualized job search strategy.

Getting Ready

Research Pays Off. It is extremely important to research the employers early. Please review the employers' profiles in Symplicity, the employer NALP forms, and employer websites BEFORE submitting a resume through OCI. Students should apply only to those employers with whom they have a "good faith" interest in interviewing.

Uploading Resumes, Cover Letters, and Transcripts

All documents required by the employer must be uploaded to Symplicity before a student will be allowed to place a "bid." Only one general resume is required, but students may also upload specialized resumes (e.g., highlighing different skills or interests) if appropriate. All documents are uploaded to the "Documents'" tab in Symplicity. Document labels are viewable by employers so label them carefully and make certain to select the correct document when attaching it to a bid. All documents must be uploaded in Word format; however, they are saved within the system in both their original format and as a PDF. Please review the PDF to ensure that it looks like it should. The PDF will be the version sent to employers. Students must re-upload any documents that have been edited, and re-attach the edited version to any prior bids. Initial resumes must be reviewed and approved by the PDO before a student can apply in Symplicity. Once uploaded, the initial resume will be held in "Pending Documents" until reviewed and approved. With this in mind, it is best to plan ahead and not wait until the last minute to upload a resume.

On-Campus Interviews vs. Resume Collection

For employers who cannot interview on campus, the PDO arranges a "Resume Collection." The application process is the same as OCI, and students must still submit a "bid" to these employers. We will forward requested documents to the employer and any further communication with applicants will come directly from the employer.

Employers Participating in OCI

For a complete list of employers participating, click on the OCI Tab and select the "session." The session represents the week the employer will be on campus. Be sure to view all sessions for a complete list.

Beginning Law School in January (J-Section) Students

Students who begin in January are eligible to participate in fall recruiting (after they have completed one semester of coursework).

Policies

Submit resumes only to those employers of genuine interest to you. Do not submit resumes for the sole purpose of gaining interview experience.

Once a student schedules an interview his or her attendance is required unless exigent circumstances exist. Students must notify the PDO staff as early as possible if cancellation becomes necessary. Students who do not show up for an interview or who repeatedly cancel interviews will not be allowed to continue participating in OCI without the permission of the Director of Professional Development. The determination whether or not to allow a student to continue participating in OCI will depend largely upon the reason for the absence/cancellation and whether the student promptly sends an appropriate letter of explanation to the employer (with a copy to the Director of Professional Development).

Once a student accepts a position, s/he must inform any other employers with whom s/he has scheduled interviews and cancel the interviews. If the student has submitted Application Packets to employers who have not yet made prescreening decisions, the Director of Professional Development will inform employers to remove the student from consideration. This simple consideration may allow another Washburn Law student the opportunity to interview. Students should copy the Director of Professional Development on any written or electronic correspondence to employers. Students who do not comply with this policy will not be allowed to participate in future OCI programs without the permission of the Director of Professional Development.